Ray Lewis has the chance to occupy rarefied air. 12 years after winning his only Super Bowl — to date — Lewis can join an exclusive club if the Ravens top the 49ers on February 3rd in New Orleans. Having already announced his retirement, the legendary linebacker can join the list of other athletes who have retired after reaching the pinnacle of their sport.

After his St. Louis Cardinals were crowned 2011 World Series champs, LaRussa announced his retirement from the game of baseball after 33 years.

Lorena Ochoa retired from golf as the No. 1 player in the world. After winning the LPGA Tour player of the year award for the fourth time in a row in 2009, Ochoa announced her retirement in 2010.

Though he lived to the age of 69, Bobby Jones retired from golf at 28. Despite leaving golf in his prime, his feats on the course made Jones a legend. He won the U.S. Amateur five times, the U.S. Open four times and three British Opens. Jones' most famous feat, the Grand Slam, happened in 1930 and Jones retired later that same year.

 

Though it's been noted recently that running backs decline quickly after the age of 30, Barry Sanders still had plenty left when he walked away from the Detroit Lions after just 10 seasons. He finished the 1998 campaign near the top statistically with almost 1,500 yards. Despite those numbers, Sanders retired after the 1998 season.

John Elway exemplifies an athlete who went out on top. Not only did his Broncos win the Super Bowl in Elway's final year but he was also named MVP in his final game ... Super Bowl XXXIII.

Pete Sampras climbed back to the top of the tennis mountain in 2002, when Sampras won the US Open for the fifth time. One year later, at the 2003 US Open, Sampras announced his retirement from tennis.

Legendary coach John Wooden brought success and notoreity to the UCLA basketball program. In 1975, the Bruins captured their 10th championship under Wooden. 1975 also marked the end of Wodden's coaching career ... he retired following the season.

Jim Brown crammed maximum results into an NFL stint that lasted just nine seasons. He left the NFL in 1965 as the league's career leader in rushing yards (12,312) and rushing touchdowns (106). He finished with 126 TDs overall and more than 15,000 all-purpose yards, averaging 5.2 yards per rushing attempt. Brown was healthy and still had gas in the tank when he retired in 1965.

 

Arthritis ended left-hander Sandy Koufax's baseball career in 1966 at the age of 30 after 12 big-league seasons with the Dodgers. He compiled a 165-87 record with a 2.76 ERA and finished with more strikeouts (2,396) than innings pitched (2,324). He won the Cy Young Award in 1966 ... the same year he retired.

Rocky Marciano (right) was 32 years old when he hung up his gloves for good. Oh yeah, he was also 49-0 and held the heavyweight championship for nearly four years before he walked away.

Jerome Bettis was a major contributer on the Steelers' squad that won Super Bowl XL. Bettis was known for taking a pounding and dishing out hits during his career and after he won his ring, he decided to hang 'em up. 

Bjorn Borg shocked the tennis world when he retired at age 26 in 1983, especially considering he already had five Wimbledon titles under his belt.